Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
The cost of maintaining a home in Forest Park can be expensive, particularly as your home ages and your systems and appliances need to be updated. A home warranty is a way to protect your bank account from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and allow you to live in your home with more peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be challenging, as there are so many companies to decide between. That’s why the Today's Homeowner team did the research and put together a list of the top home warranty companies in Forest Park for you.
Very highly rated among customer service reviews
Covers repairs with a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Extensive list of 20+ add-on coverages
Easy claims process
Won’t cover known or unknown pre-existing conditions
In Forest Park, Liberty Home Guard is the most trustworthy home warranty. Liberty has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from Liberty, you can benefit from a seamless complaint process and guaranteed service professionalism upon every repair visit. Not to mention, it has a 60-day workmanship guarantee and some of the best customer service in the industry.
The 3 plans from Liberty Home Guard are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. The coverage caps associated with Liberty’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $75.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Liberty Home Guard. To receive a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or give them a call at 866-451-2281.
Appliance Guard
Systems Guard
Total Home Guard
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
In Forest Park, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from Choice, you can benefit from very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. Not to mention, it has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties.
The 2 plans from Choice Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Total Plan. The coverage caps associated with Choice’s plans are around the $3,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are an affordable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Choice Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 929-400-6164.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
Low service fees compared to other home warranty providers
Two months of free coverage
Has an appliance-only, systems-only, and combo plan option
90-day repair guarantee
Has a $75 cancellation fee
Low coverage caps
In Forest Park, Select Home Warranty is the most cost-effective home warranty. Select has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from Select, you can benefit from a highly affordable service fee and free roof coverage upon purchase of a policy plan. Not to mention, it has an extensive network of highly trained professionals all over the country who are experts in home maintenance.
The 3 plans from Select Home Warranty are Bronze Care Plan, Gold Care Plan, and Platinum Care Plan. The coverage caps associated with Select’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $60.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Select Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from Select Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-370-3953.
Bronze Care Plan
Gold Care Plan
Platinum Care Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
In Forest Park, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from AHS, you can benefit from the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. Not to mention, it has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies.
The 3 plans from American Home Shield are ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. The coverage caps associated with AHS’s plans are around the $2,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $125.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of American Home Shield. To receive a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or give them a call at 888-365-2839.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Established company with a bbb accreditation
Doesn’t have a coverage cap on heating, cooling, or ductwork
24/7 service calls available
Offers replacement of some covered items that are too damaged to repair
Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor
According to some customer reviews, the technical jargon in contracts is confusing
In Forest Park, First American Home Warranty is the best home warranty for appliance coverage. First American has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from First American, you can benefit from very affordable and comprehensive appliance coverage. Not to mention, it has a unique add-on alongside common ones called the First Class Upgrade, which covers fees associated with the use of lifting equipment, up to $250 per local building permits, haul away services, and appliances and systems that have been insufficiently installed or modified.
The 2 plans from First American Home Warranty are Basic Plan and Premier Plan. The coverage caps associated with First American’s plans are around the $1,500 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are a reasonable $85.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of First American Home Warranty. To receive a free quote from First American Home Warranty, fill out this online form or give them a call at 833-204-7164.
Basic Plan
Premier Plan
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
In Forest Park, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has 3 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from Cinch, you can benefit from a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. Not to mention, it has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind.
The 3 plans from Cinch Home Services are Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. The coverage caps associated with Cinch’s plans are around the $1,000-$2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $75 to $150.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of Cinch Home Services. To receive a free quote from Cinch Home Services, fill out this online form or give them a call at 877-589-0505.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
In Forest Park, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has 2 simple plans, making the selection process and policy coverage easily understandable. With a home warranty from HSC, you can benefit from quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. Not to mention, it has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee.
The 2 plans from The Home Service Club are Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. The coverage caps associated with HSC’s plans are around the $2,000 mark for most of the major systems and appliances, and service fees are customizable and range from $65 to $90.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our review of The Home Service Club. To receive a free quote from The Home Service Club, fill out this online form or give them a call at 800-750-9443.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
| Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioner | $6,083 |
| Heating | $4,055 |
| Electrical | $608 |
| Toilets | $507 |
| Washer/Dryer | $811 |
| Plumbing | $608 |
| Oven | $1,622 |
| Fridge | $608 |
A home warranty is a protection plan that assists Forest Park homeowners lower the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer coverage to fix or swap out appliances and systems that malfunction due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty company then finds a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement exceeds the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives homeowners reassurance by helping avoid expensive emergency repairs. The coverage is especially helpful for buyers of older houses or houses with systems near the end of their life span. However, homeowners with newer homes and functioning appliances might not need a home warranty.
Home warranties cover many home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are washers, refrigerators, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more. Protected systems include plumbing, heating, electrical, and air conditioning. Many home warranty plans offer extra coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and even locksmiths. It's important for Forest Park homeowners to know that most home warranty policies have a 30-day period you must wait before they will cover the cost of any repairs. Additionally, policies typically only cover repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't cover problems such as pre-existing conditions, cosmetic issues, natural disasters, or misuse of a system or appliance. Make sure to keep up with preventative maintenance to ensure that your next repair or replacement will be covered by the policy.
There are several home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several key factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage can have major differences in what's included. Most plans provide coverage for heating, electrical, AC, plumbing, and appliances. More robust coverage options also offer coverage on other items such as well pumps, roof leaks, spas, and pools. Look for a provider that offers an extensive selection of coverage options, including upgraded plans. You want the flexibility to customize coverage to fit your home's specific systems and needs.
You'll pay a repair fee, normally ranging from $60–100 for each claim filed with your home warranty provider. These fees to accumulate quickly with each claim, so you may look for companies advertising more affordable fees to optimize savings on each repair claim. Certain providers may eliminate deductibles after a customer goes a period of time with no claims filed.
A home warranty company's reputation provides insight into things such as claim approval rates, timeliness of repairs, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to research providers. Complimentary reviews and ratings indicate a company known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair technicians to manage repairs in a given area. Reach out to potential providers to ask how many repair specialists they have in Forest Park and get an idea of how fast your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Larger networks increase the probability of getting qualified contractors to swiftly service your home.
Some home warranty plans provide extras such as maintenance discounts, energy efficiency upgrades, and smart home device protection. These add value beyond repair coverage. Added bonuses can maximize the usefulness of your home warranty.
Since temperatures in Forest Park can easily reach 100 degrees, the extreme weather can put a lot of strain on your air conditioner. Purchasing a home warranty can help homeowners save money if one of these systems or appliances breaks down suddenly.
A home warranty also saves you time and energy. Instead of spending hours researching and selecting a technician to fix your appliance or system, home warranty companies do the hard work for you and send a trusted professional to your door whenever you need them. Additionally, having a home warranty can make your house more appealing to potential homebuyers should you ever decide to sell later. Many home warranty providers will allow you to transfer your policy to a new owner and give them the same protection you’ve been receiving.
As for the drawbacks of home warranties, coverage varies by provider, so it’s important to review what each plan covers and excludes in the contract.
In addition, if you don’t maintain your home systems or appliances properly, or if they need repairs due to a natural disaster or animal infestation — anything besides normal wear and tear — the home warranty may not cover it.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in Forest Park. Our top-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually less expensive to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what types of damage each covers. A home warranty covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects your entire home in case of something such as a natural disaster or fire. Under a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim should you need a new refrigerator or air conditioner, unless the damage is due to a natural disaster, which can be a threat in Forest Park.
A home warranty plan can help investors, real estate agents, homebuyers, homeowners, and home sellers. It can provide peace of mind and savings to anyone involved in homeownership.
The different types of home warranties in Forest Park include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan will cover many of your home systems and appliances, such as your washing machine, drier, and plumbing. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items listed in the contract.
Generally, a home warranty policy lasts for a year and can be renewed annually. Some companies may offer month-to-month plans.
Typically, the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the person who is selling the home may buy a home warranty plan and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then need to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in Forest Park is $181,449, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
